The co-founder of fast growing consultancy Opencast has announced he is retiring from the business.
Mike O’Brien launched the technology company 12 years ago with co-founder Charlie Hoult after spending his early career as a software developer, working for the likes of the NHS as well as on digital transformation projects for financial institutions. After a chance meeting with entrepreneur Charlie Hoult outside the gates of the Newcastle school where each of their eight-year old twins attended, the pair became business partners and set up Opencast in 2012.
Having started the company from a small office at The Kiln in Hoults Yard and a team of four people, the company now has close to 500 employees and works with 海角视频 public sector bodies, healthcare organisations and businesses to develop services that include support for critical national infrastructure and help for millions of citizens. Now, after nearly four decades in technology consultancy, Mr O’Brien says the time is right for him to retire from the company.
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He said: “After Charlie and I met, we went on a long walk around Kielder Reservoir, where the idea emerged of starting a different type of technology consultancy – independent, focused on people over process, but also on how technology when used right could deliver positive change for clients and wider society. Some people laughed and said what we wanted couldn’t be done – but the facts have proved them wrong.
“Opencast has grown from a handful of people in 2012 to close to 500 people 12 years later. It is testament to the people who have joined us over the years that Opencast still upholds the values and goals that Charlie and I had at the start.”
Mr O’Brien, who has long championed the region’s tech scene, was a founding member of regional tech network Dynamo North East and in 2022 was honoured as entrepreneur of the year’by the region’s Entrepreneurs’ Forum.
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He said: “Retiring from a business you co-founded is never an easy decision, but I’ve decided that the time is right. I have huge passions outside of Opencast, from music to skateboarding. This year I’ve taken a share in London vinyl record shop Dash the Henge, and also invested in education marketing start-up Fabric. So, while I’m retiring from Opencast, I am very much going to remain active and working on lots of things.
“I’m confident that Opencast has the perfect team in place to continue to grow the business with the same founding vision that Charlie and I set out to achieve. I am deeply proud of our impact over the years. With the company now on a pathway to gain B Corp status, Opencast has a great future as a people-centric business that makes life better.”
Led by chief executive Tom Lawson, Opencast now has ambitions to grow to a 1,000-strong, business while maintaining its focus on people and purpose, while also keeping its independence. A share options scheme was introduced in 2022 meaning all of Opencast’s staff have a potential stake in the company’s future success. An agreement between Mr O’Brien and Opencast will see a transfer of his shares as part of an internal buy-back process. Charlie Hoult will continue in his role as executive chair.
Mr Hoult added: “It has been one of the greatest privileges in my life to start and scale Opencast with Mike. It’s a wonder that an idea formed by a chance encounter turned into a spark that has caught fire, capturing the imagination of clients, now with great momentum with more exceptional people joining the business every month. Mike has been like a ‘brother from another mother’ to me because we are so aligned on our cultural references and deep human values. There’s been such a close connection and rarely a cross word in nearly 12 years together.
“The list of thank yous to Mike is long. Very long. He’s taught me so much about the business of tech consulting. He’s taught me about vision, large-scale tech projects – and lots about 80s indie music.”